Re: Origin and etymology of "¿De parte de quién?"

Hi Simpatica,

I've done some research on your query as it seemed interesting to me, however I have not been able to find where that expression comes from, but I did find some other ways of saying such term, as well as some other tips for telephone communications:

Re: Origin and etymology of "¿De parte de quién?"

Hi Sim_patica!
The etimology of the word "parte" is: lat. pars, partis which means portion or part. In this specific phrase it means: f. Cada una de las personas o de los grupos de ellas que contienden, discuten o dialogan. (DRAE)
fem. Each person or group of people that take part in a discussion or dialog.
In a broader sense, it means: En nombre de alguien o por encargo suyo. In behalf of somebody or in the name of somebody.
In an affirmative sentence it would be:
e.g. Decile a Fulano felicitaciones demiparte.
The order changes in questions:
¿De partedequién?
The expression is the same but you change the Personal pronoun "mi" by the noun "quien" preceded by the preposition "de".

Re: Origin and etymology of "¿De parte de quién?"

I have absolutely no knowledge about this, but I have a guess. Could this expression have come from an era in which an operator or a secretary or someone else typically arranged calls for someone? You know.... along the lines of "Get Mr. Smith on the line for me."----"Mr. Jones, I have Mr. Smith on line 2."

Re: Origin and etymology of "¿De parte de quién?"

Hi María,

I don't think that could be the case, since this referred to the way spanish speakers find out who is the person that wants to talk (to somebody else). However it might be linked to your query in some aspect...

Re: Origin and etymology of "¿De parte de quién?"

So, I was thinking that if this third party placed the call, the person receiving the call would ask "de parte de quien" because the person who places the call is not the person who actually wants to speak to the person called.